VUV Analytics

Science in a new light

The American innovation company VUV Analytics Inc. has developed a UV-detector that operates in the lower UV-range (120-240 nm), also known as vacuum ultraviolet (VUV). In this range of the electromagnetic spectrum, most gas-phase compounds absorbs strongly and results in unique spectral signatures. Additionally, at these wavelength common carrier gases as helium, hydrogen and argon does not absorb light, which makes the detector ideal for gas chromatographic analysis.

How does it work?

The detector consists of a heating transfer line, deuterium light source, optical filter, flow cell and a CCD detector to collect and detect transmitted light.

The high energy at short wavelengths results in σ → σ*, n → σ*, π → π* and n → π* electronic transitions of most chemical bondings in gaseous compounds. The electronic transition appears with both saturated and unsaturated alkanes, dienes, aromatics and compounds containing O, N, S and halogens.

A VUV spectrum reflects the absorbance cross section of the compounds analyzed, and are specific to the electronic structure and functional groups. This makes VUV detector able to provide selectivity of isomers and co-eluting analytes.

Which VUV?

VUV Analytics has developed three different VUV-detectors compatible with most GCs, such as Agilent, Thermo Fisher, Perkin Elmer, Scion and Shimadzu.

VGA-100

A VGA-100 is the first VUV spectrometer operating in high energy, low wavelength region (120-240 nm), where most gas phase molecules absorb strongly This instrument is a universal mass-sensitive GC detector.

VGA-101

VGA-101 has the same dimension as the VGA-100, and with updated components the UV spectrum is expanded from 120 nm to 430 nm. This range provides unique selectivity for more complex structures, hereof PAHs. Furthermore, the VGA-101 detector allows for operating up to 430 °C, which is suitable for analysis of high boiling point compounds and GCxGC methods.

LUMA™

LUMA is the latest VUV-detector from VUV Analytics The Multi-Channel VUV absorbance detector is a smaller model than the VGAs and is ideal for detecting impurities in your analytical workflow. The LUMA can be placed on top of your Agilent 6890, 7890, 8890 or 8860 GC, and is easy to use and operate with the LED front panel. You can use LUMA in combination with an FID, TCD or MS. The detector works with existing Chromatography data systems.

What does it do?

Besides quantitative information, as FID, ECD and TCD will provide, a VUV-detector can supply with qualitative data. Furthermore, a VUV-detector:

allows you to differentiate closely related isomers
is ideal for analysis of gas phase compounds, where helium, hydrogen and argon does not absorb
makes it possible to shorten your GC runs by 2-5 times
allows you to deconvolve co-eluting peaks
is compatible with most GCs from major manufacturers

VUV Analytics has developed multiple applications and ASTM-methods based on the VUV-detection, hereof: